Rain levels since October have devastated homes and farmland, as we have experienced the country's most active storm season since records began.
I’ve visited some of the worst affected villages such as Stonton Wyville, Greatford, Whitwell and Whissendine and brought the Flooding Minister to Tallington and Oakham to meet residents and farmers.
Following five months of campaigning, including raising the issue at PMQs, multiple meetings with the Farming Secretary and holding a Flooding Summit with the Flooding Minister, in May I successfully changed the criteria for the Farming Recovery Fund so Rutland can access it. The criteria has been greatly expanded to include a wider geographical area of farmers who suffered river flooding, and it now also includes those who experienced damage due to extreme rainfall.
I will be launching a new Flood Resilience Scheme for us all, to help mitigate and avoid such damaging floods in the future.